CHAPTER 15

"What happened? Why didn't you attend the award's night?" The CEO raised her voiced, "Many people have spotted you driving." The CEO of the music company called up Jeremy to discuss matters relating to last night's music award. There was news that circulated involving him. Jeremy, who didn't attend the award's night, made an alibi that he was sick. The problem was, he was spotted driving his car past midnight. He was on his way home from Kate's condominium. He has forgotten that he told Tobby to receive the award in his place and asked for an apology for being sick.

"Ma'am." Tobby tried to interrupt. He wanted to defend Jeremy and just accept the mistake.

She stared at him and said, "Shut up! You're the manager but you allowed your artist to be seen in public!" After which, she glanced at Jeremy, "If you didn't want to attend, okay that's fine but you should have stayed home, away from people. Your reputation is at risk for what you did. Just think of what people would say. You are a big star; every move that you make is big news. When you were on the news, seen with someone else, that's tolerable but for you to make up an excuse for an event and be seen in another place. That's something."

Jeremy stood up and was about to walk out of the room when the CEO said, "We have to release an apology statement. You have to attend the press conference later." The media have been bugging him and the company for an official statement regarding the situation. It was just right that they should voice out and make amends.

He looked back and said, "Yeah. That would be fine. I would ask for an apology at the same time announce my retirement from music industry." He then walked straight out of the room. Jeremy has thought about it since this morning seeing the news about him.

They were shocked. The CEO was not able to say a word. Jeremy is the star of their company. He has become the backbone of their income. If he leaves then the company will surely lose big time. Things could still be repaired if he would just apologize to the public. Surely, people would continue to love him.

Afraid of what he just heard, Tobby looked at her and followed Jeremy out. Before he could close the door, the CEO instructed, "Tell Jeremy to cool his head first. I will do the press conference myself."

Tobby nodded and tried to catch up with Jeremy. Tobby was worried. If Jeremy leaves the company, he might lose his job as well. Surely, it will leave a great mark on his track record being a manager, a big failure. Who would want to entrust their career to a failure.

He rushed to reach Jeremy. When he caught up with him at the lobby, he asked, "Hey, are you okay?" He knew that Jeremy was not in the mood since he saw the news. As a manager, he has to smoothen everything, even the mood of his talent.

Jeremy looked at him and was about to say a word when they heard someone saying, "Hey, congratulations on the award last night! I thought you were sick." When they gazed at the person, it was Natalie. She was the former girlfriend of Jeremy before the accident. She's also an artist but more of a dancer.

Before, Natalie and Jeremy used to perform with one another. They only lasted for months. They actually broke up when he caught her cheating with another artist, a fellow dancer. Since then, they haven't seen each other. Only now that they saw each other again. The timing was not much better. He was not in the mood to play.

She approached him and tried to kiss him on his cheek as a greeting but Jeremy moved away. Then he said, "Thank you! Congratulation as well." Without a haste, he walked out of the building. He still felt disgusted on what she did. Not only was it publicly known, more so he was the one who caught them.

Jeremy and Tobby went back to their condominium. Throughout the day, he was in his bedroom. Tobby did not bother, talking with him since he knew that he wanted to be alone. He just prepared their lunch and arranged some of their stuffs.

Later that afternoon, Jeremy true to his words went back to the company for the press conference. Tobby tried to convince him, telling him that the CEO would be the one who would apologize to the press but he couldn't stop Jeremy from what he was planning to do. He knew that Jeremy made up his mind. As always, no one can stop him.

"Please Jeremy, let's go back." Tobby pleaded.

"Tobby, have you forgotten that sooner or later, I would have to retire? I need to go back to Monaco and of course you will join me, right?" Jeremy explained as they continued to walk toward the conference hall. Tobby nodded but continued to stop him.

When Jeremy opened the door, the press conference had already started. All eyes and cameras turned toward him as he stepped up the stage. The CEO tried to convince him that she will handle it herself but Jeremy couldn't be stopped. He sat down and started talking, thanking them for their availability.

He said, "I would also like to apologize to the organizers of last night's music award and to my faithful fans. I was selfish for not attending the event last night. Actually, I really intended not to attend the event, not because I was sick, but because lately I have been contemplating of retiring from the industry." All who were present at the hall were silent. The many hands typing stopped, the clicks of the cameras froze and the murmuring voices halted as well. All were not expecting what they just heard. They thought that they would only hear him apologize, but to hear him say goodbye to the music industry, was unexpected.

He continued, "Let me then make it an official announcement. I would be retiring from the music industry starting today. Thank you for your patience in dealing with me for these past months. To the greatest fans in the world, my gratitude for you exceeds all the words, thank you! You had been very supportive to me in my ups and especially in my downs. Thank you! Please continue supporting the great music of our time. I may be retiring starting today but my love for music will never cease. I hope that you also, who have been following me, would continue to support and love music as I am. Good afternoon!"

Jeremy did not entertain any questions when he was finished. He stood up and walked out of the hall immediately. The media continued to follow him until the entrance of the company building. The CEO and the media were shouting his name hoping to get his attention but to no avail.

Many fans have been saddened by his announcement. Many of them have cried while some fainted. It circulated in just few minutes, from offices, malls, schools until it reached the ears of Kate who was in a class.

"Guys, JM announced his retirement from music." One of her classmates stood up and yelled.

All eyes were on Kate. It is a public knowledge that she's the current girlfriend of Jeremy. She remained quite. She actually did not know that Jeremy would do such thing. He didn't inform her. Was it because of her that he's retiring? What was the reason? Many questions floated in her mind. Was it because of what happened last night? Why didn't he inform her first? She became edgy on the matter. She wanted to talk to him but what will she say?

Kate was about to text him when her phone rang. It was Jeremy. She walked out of the room before answering the call. "Where are you?" Jeremy asked.

"School." Her voiced sounded sad.

"Don't go anywhere I'm on my way there. I have to tell you something."

"Can we just meet at the condo after my class?"

"Okay. What time?"

"Five?"

"Okay then."

She hanged up the call and return to her room. Her classmates were curious of the reason why JM retired. They bombarded her with questions but she didn't answer. When they seem to be not stopping, Grace, Abby and May came to her rescue. "Guys, leave her alone. She doesn't know as well. Can you not see she's also shocked by what happened?" Grace yelled.

"Let's give her some space!" May added.

"Respect and privacy please!" Abby said.

They tried to comfort her. They enumerated possible reasons why he did it. They kept saying to her that he has his own reason why. Surely, he knows what he was doing.

After an hour when the class was already calm, another student stood up and shouted, "There is another news. This time it's an international news and JM is on it again." They began to browse their phone to watch it. It was about the announcement of the Principality of Monaco that Jeremy Francesco Honoré Rainier Grimaldi would be the Prince Héréditaire of Monaco. It was really a big news.

People soon understood that Kate was not the reason why Jeremy retired. It was because he would be the crown prince of a certain state. It was really international news. A popular singer soon to be a crown prince. Who would have thought? Even his most ardent fans did not know that he was a prince. No one knew, even the sister of Kate didn't know.

Kate's classmates reached out to her, congratulating her and teasing her as a soon- to- be- princess. It was a bad joke. Kate was astounded. She didn't know what to do anymore. Jeremy retired just a few hours ago and then now he's actually a crown prince. She could not take the pressure anymore.

Questions soon bothered her again. Why did he lie? Why did he not tell her? Who is he really? She did not know what to do anymore. She didn't want to talk with him. She wanted to be alone. She ran out of the classroom and went straight home to their condo.

Grace, May and Abby tried to stop her but she was not focused. She was distracted by what had just happened. She felt betrayed. Everything that she knew about Jeremy was being questioned by her mind. She wanted to be out of the situation. She wanted to be far way from all this things.